Another incredibly warm day in the middle of winter here in the mountains Friday and a nice afternoon to climb on a motorcycle to ride.

Topped off the tank of my Harley Switchback in Floyd and headed south on Virginia Rte. 8 down Woolwine Mountain, carving the twisty roads while avoiding the broken spots of pavement.

Stopped for a soda at Wendy’s on the U.S. 58 bypass before heading up Lovers’ Leap Mountain towards Meadows of Dan, slowed near the top by an 18-wheeler chugging long on the final set of twists and turns.

In Meadows of Dan, hit the Blue Ridge Parkway to head Northeast past Mabry Mill, then the FloydFest site just past Rock Ridge Road, then past Rocky Knob campground, the Saddle Overlook, Rocky Knob overlook, Tuggles Gap, Rakes Mill Pond an onward to Franklin Pike.

lots of downed streets, fallen limbs and debris from the winds of earlier in the week, including a tree that snapped off and dropped at the intersection with Rte. 8 at Tuggles.

Then the short hope on Franklin Pike, Poor Farm Road and Sandy Flats to home for a pleasant 80+ miles of comfortable riding in the 50+ temperatures.

The thermometer is already 58 degrees at 6:30 this morning and is expected to hit 65 by 2 p.m.  I’m heading north towards Roanoke shortly to join members of the Roanoke Valley Harley Owners Group for breakfast and a possible ride down where the high is expected to top 70 degrees.

Live to ride and ride to live are mottos of those of us who enjoy time on two-wheels.

Which makes this a gorgeous day to be alive.